A decades-long lawsuit over the pollution of the Illinois River Watershed (IRW) by poultry waste runoff has resulted in a settlement of nearly $44 million, according to Oklahoma State Attorney General Gentner Drummond.
“This agreement allows us to turn the page on a dispute that has gone on for far too long,” Drummond said. “It protects Oklahoma’s water, provides certainty for our poultry industry, and shows that difficult problems can be solved through persistence and good-faith negotiation … Every company has now made enforceable commitments with clear deadlines, creating a balanced solution that protects our natural resources while supporting one of Oklahoma’s most important industries.”
Oklahoma sued Tyson Foods, Cargill, George’s, Peterson Farms, Cal-Maine and Simmons Foods alleging their farms polluted the IRW that feeds Lake Tenkiller and other waterways. A ruling was handed down in December by U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell that the poultry companies were responsible for the pollution…